Automatic control of cinematograph or similar apparatus



H. R. CEEVER. AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF CINEMATOGRAPH 0R SIMILAR APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, l-9l7- 1,366,310. & Patented Jan. 18,1921.

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BUD-u H R. CEEVER.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF CINEMATOGRAPH 0R SIMILAR APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1917.

1,366,310. Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

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//V VEN T08 ATTORNEY H. R. CEEVER. AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF CINEMATOGRAPH OR SIMILAR APPARATUS. 1,366,310.

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HENRY @EEVER, HQ'BUKEN, NEW

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Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Jan. 113, 11921..

Application filed may 2%,1917. Serial. No. IBM/49.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, HENRY F. Craven, a subject of Russia, residin at Pobolren, in the county of Hudson and tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Control of @inematograph or Similar Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

,This invention is concerned in particular with automatic control of the cutting in and cutting out operations for a plurality of The object in view is to provide a device adapted to perform automatically an importantpart of the duties of a moving picture operator under conditions arising in places, where two or more cinematographs are employed, one in succession of the other, so as to produce a continuous performance with the least possible inter ruption. -The duties referred to concern the starting and stopping of such cinematographs at the right time, which requires both considerable attention and skill on the part of the operator. In cases where the succeeding film is to start with acont-inuation ofa scene of the preceding 0ne,a frequent occurrence in plays extending over a number of reels,and the impression of absolute continuity is very desirable, the automatic device described herein will accomplish this e d with much more accuracy than even a s lrilled operator is able to attain.

As a supplementary accessory to this invention is provided an acoustic device sounding a signal at the moment a change of run from one cinematograph to another is being efiected.

My object is attained, firstly, by providing means for controlling the cutting-in and cutting-out appliances of the cinematographs to be operated, said means consisting of a number of sets corresponding to the number of said cinematographs, each set having a member situated in a convenient 'part of one of the latter. Secondly, by providing each film to be used in this connection with a device'adapted, at the moment of its passage with the'former through one of said cinematographs to come in such contact with the said controlling means member.

situated therein, as to actuate the corresponding set of controlling means, thereby cutting out the. cinematograph engaged in operation and cutting-in another one to sue: ceed it. Th s actuating device, or a size and nature as to ofier no obstacle to its through a projector, may be either attached to the film, where desired, or may form a part in the construction of a portion of the same.

twill sufiice in the following to confine the considerations to the case of two cinematographs, as in practice the use of more than two is very rare. Besides, the means riety of forms and modes of operation. For the former I prefer to use the solenoid with movable plunger, and for the most important part of the latter, the pawl and ratchet.

The device in combination with the film may likewise vary in form and mode of operation. Its function with respect to the solenoid, as described and illustrated hereinafter, is to close or affect an electric circuit containing one of them, at the moment of its passage'through a cinematograph nearing the completion of its run.

Two forms of such devices are dealt with in the following; preference, however, being given to one of them, so that the details in illustration and description will be more concerned with the form preferred.

As a source of electricity for energizing the electromagnetic apparatus, I prefer to use the currents of the motor circuits, so that the circuits containing the solenoids will be mainly in the form of shunts on the motor circuits.

Tn the accompanying drawings, which are made part of this application, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate one form of film attachment consisting of an electric conductor secured to a portion of film, Fig. 1 being the plan view, and Fig. 2 a cross section along the line yz or" Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the same portion of film with attachment at the moment of its passage through the upper firetrap between a pair ofrollers forming terminals of an electric circuit on one side, and a illustrate a film attachment in the form of a catch secured to a'portion of film, Fig. 4 being a plan view of the catch and film, Fig. 5 a plan view of the reverse side of it, and Fig. 6 a side elevation. Figs. 7 and 8 show the portion of film with the catch at the moment of their passage between two guide rollers and in front of a device having essentially the function of a switch, Fig. 8 being a plan view and Fig. 7 a cross section elevation along the line pg. Fig. 9 is a cross section elevation of a part of Fig. 8 along the line 'vw. Fig. 10 shows the details of one set of controlling means. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical wiring inter-connecting two such sets with the motor circuits of a pair of cinematographs. Fig. 12 shows a diagrammatic view of a combination of strings or chains with pulleys, said strings or chains inter-connecting the lamp house shutters of a pair of cinematographs among themselves as well as with a .member of each of the two sets of control-- lin means.

eferring to the drawings in which simi lar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 denotes a portion of a film, 2 an attachment consisting of conducting material, like a stri of copper. 3, 3 are two end pieces passing through slits in the film and clamping the latter at those points. Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the lower left-hand corner of the upper film chamber, 5 .denotes the casing, 7 the firetrap, 4, 4 are two rollers insulated from .each other and forming terminals of an electric circuit containing electromagnetic apparatus controlling a set of cutting-in and cuttin -out appliances for a' pair of cinematograp s, 6 is a guide roller. The film 1 with the attachment 2 are shown at the moment of their passage between roller 6 on one side, and rollers 4, 4 on the other, the attachment coming in contact with the latter two, and closing the circuit containing said electromagnetic apparatus. In

Figs. 4, 5 and 6, 1 denotes the film, 8' the.

catch consisting of a strip of 'springy material, bulging out on one side of the film. (This is only one of many possible forms of it, and shown in the drawing in a rather magnified size; in fact, the catch may be reduced to a small projection'or prominence on the surface of the film). 10, 10 are two pointed extensions between which and the fiat end-portion of the catch, the film is clamped. In Figs. 7 and 8 the catch is shown at the moment of its passage with the film between rollers 11 and 12; roller 11 is divided into two parts, as seen in Fig. 8; 1313' denote a lever mounted between the two roller parts on a common axis with them; 14 is awedge shaped piece of insulating material secured to the bottom part of lever arm 13; 15, 15 denote two springy blades or rods of conducting material, preferably copper, normally kept apart by the insulating wedge 14 and coming in contact with each other, when said wedge is removed; 16 denotes insulation between the two lower ends of said rods, 17 exterior insulation separating the same from the casing 5; 18 denotes a Solenoid, 19 its plunger, 20 a bushing lining the hole in casing wall 5; at'21 the plunger is pivotally connected to lever arm 13.

At the moment the film portion passes between the rollers 11 and 12, bridge 9 (see Fig. 4) of the catch strikes lever tip 13' whereby arm 13 is thrust upward (as indicated by dotted lines) and-insulating wedge 14 forced out from between the rods 15, 15; plunger 19 follows the upward movement of the lever. When solenoid 18 is energized by a current, plunger 19 and with it the lever and insulating wedge are forced back to their normal positions.

In Fig. 10, 22 denotes a solenoid, 23 its movable plunger, theextension of which forms a two-sided pawl, with teeth 24 adapted to engage ratchet 26 and teeth 25 adapted to engage ratchetv 27 the latter is firmly secured to pulley 29, and both rotatably .mounted on pivot 28; ratchet 26 is firmly secured to the knob of turnswitch 30 controlling one of the motor circuits; 31 denotes a retracting coil spring secured to plunger 23; 32 denotes another solenoid with a movable, spring retracted plunger 33, and extension of the latter with pawl teeth 34 adapted to engage ratchet 26 at the back stroke of the plunger. 36 denotes a bar adapted to slide back and forth in sleeve 37; 38 and 39 are projections or teeth at either end of said bar adapted to be engaged by tooth 40 of plunger 23 during the latters travel back and forth. 42 and 43 denote terminals within a circuit containing solenoid'18 (see Fig. 7) 41 is a contact piece' adapted to close said circuit, when in simultaneous contact with 42 and 43; 44 is an elastic rod pivoted at 45; 46 a flexible connector between said rod and the end piece of bar 36. 47 denotes an electromagnetic acoustic device the circuit of which forms a shunt on that of solenoid 22. 48, 48, 49, 49' and 50, 50 denote leads connecting respectively terminals 42, 43; turnswitch 30 and solenoid 32 to exterior terminal members 51, 51; 52, 52 and. 53, 53'; 54, 54 are exterior terminal members for solenoid 22; 55 denotes the casing within which the described parts are assembled.

When solenoid 22 is energized by a current, plunger 23 is drawn in, teeth 24 engage ratchet 26, whereby turnswitch 30 is operated. Near the end of this stroke, tooth 40 strikes tooth 39 causing bar 36 to follow the plunger through the remainder of the latters travel, and contact piece 41 is brought into a position to connect terminals l2 43. At the same movement rod or is forced into a vertical position firmly held in Such by the end piece of 36; the pawl part of the plunger is by means forced upward, (sufficient play being provided for in the solenoid) into such a position as to engage ratchet 26 during the back stroke of the plunger. This occurs when the current in solenoid 22 is cut and spring 31 snaps back. At this strolre ratchet 28 makes one revolution, carrying pulley 29 with whereby a downward pull on string 8 is exerted. Before the end of the backstroke, tooth 411:0 strikes tooth 38, so that bar 36 with contact piece i]. is brought back to its nor mal position, terminals &2 and 48 are disconnected again and rod is pulled back to its slanting position by connector l6 allowing also plunger 23 to return to its former position. lln solenoid 32 the plunger 38 is kept in its normal position by coil spring 35, the latter yielding suficiently the movement of the former to pawlteeth 34 to slideby ratchet 26,-worlr done only at the back strolre, when the teeth engage the ratchet. thereby operating turnswitch 30. As will be seen later, the action of solenoid 32 with respect to turnswitch 30 is in opposite sense to that of solenoid 22: while the operation of the latter is to close the circuit controlled by switch 30, the operation of the former is to break it.

Figs. 11 and 12 showing a relation of parts and connections with respect to a pair of cinematographs are syetrical in construction, since the parts in combination with each of the two cinematographs, as well as their connections, are similar. In the following, the corresponding parts of the sides A and B of said figures will be designated with similar numerals, but where distinction is required, the numerals will be accompanied by the letter of their respective side.

In Fig. 11 rectangle 55, on either side, inclqses a diagrammatic representation of the I electromagnetic apparatus contained in casing of Fig. 10. and 60 denote sepa rate motor drives for, each of the two cinematographs respectively, which are supposed to be controlled by said electromagnetic apparatus. The motor circuit on either side is formedby positive wire 59, teal member 52' lead 49', turnswitch 30, lead 49, terminal'member 52, wire 61, motor 60, and return wire 62. 58 denotes the compensator customary in operating room wiring. 56 and .57 are the feed wires to which the compensator is connected. The circuit of solenoid 22 forms a shunt on motor circuit B through positive wire 63 terminal member 54 solenoid 22 terminal member 54", re-

turn wire 64?, switch 15 (see Fig. .8 terminal rods 15, 15) and wire 65. Conversely a shunt on motorcircuit A. through its corresponding connections is controlled by switch '15. The circuit of solenoid 18 (see F 8) forms another shunt on motor circuit B from terminal member 52 through positive wire 66 (see Fig. 10) terminal member 51', lead 48, switch ll (see Fig. 10, contact piece 41) lead l8, terminal member 51 wire 5'? solenoid l8 and return wire 68. Conversely the circuit of solenoid l8 forms a shunt on motorcircuit A through corresponding connections and is controlled by switch ll The circuit of solenoid 32 forms a shunt on the circuit of solenoid l8 through positive wire 69* terminal member 53, lead 50 solenoid 32,

lead 50 terminal member 53 and return wire l0 ,'-being also controlled by switch 4:1 Elimilarly solenoid 32 forms a shunt on the circuit of solenoid 18", being, with the latter, controlled by switch ll.

ln Fig. 12, as in Fig. 11, the casing con- B. The plane of the latter is here assumed to be the front wall 6., the wall, through which the projection is taking place) of the operating. room, whereto the casings containing the control apparatus are most conveniently secured. The rim 71 of a lamphouse tunnel is shown on one side indicating the connection of the dowsers with the lamphouses. '72 denotes the dowser, or lamphouse shutter on either side of the figure, 73 the dowser handle. At 74 the dowser is rotatably mounted on a pivot in the usual manner. 7 8 and 79 denote guide pulleys secured to the ceiling, vertically above the dowser; 80 and 81 are such pulleys secured,

preferably to the ceiling, next to the wall.

7'? denotes a guide pulley firmly secured in a position near thelamphouse tunnel, in the same plane as the dowser. String or chain 83* connected at 75* to dowser handle 73 runs over pulley 77 vertically up to pulley 79 over the latter across the ceiling to pulley 80 and over this down to connecting with string 845*, the other end of which is wrapped around control pulley 29*. String 82*, connected at 76 to dowser handle 73* .runs vertically up to the ceiling, and over pulley 78* across the ceiling to pulley 81 and over the latter to 85 connecting with string 84, the other end of which is wrapped around control pulley 29'. It will be seen that string 8 1" serves as a common end piece fowl 3? and 82", while 849 is the common end piece for 83 and 82.

As shown in the drawing, dowser 72 is in the open position, while 7 2" is closed. When pulley 29 is caused to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow, a pull is exerted on General description of the control apparatus and its action.

In the following it will be assumed that two cinematographs A and B with separate motor drives and lamphouses are to be operated alternately and that, at the given moment, A is in operation, while B with its film ready in position, is to succeed it.

It is also assumed that the film in A is shutter 72 into the open position, while the.

provided with an attachment in the form of a catch (see Figs. 4, 5, 6). For the usual purposes the'proper place for the attachment is near the tail endof the film.

As described above, when bridge 9 of the catch, at the moment of the latters passage between the rollers 11 and 12 strikes lever tip 13 (see Fig. 7), insulating wedge 14: is forced out from between the terminal rods 15*, 15*, closing the shunt circuit (on motor circuit A), containing solenoid 22", whereby the latter becomes energized. Pawl part 24 of plunger 23' closes, at the latters movement, motor control switch 30 bringing motor 60 and with it projector of side B into-action, leaving, however, lamphouse shutter 72 (Fig. 12) still closed. Near the end of this stroke tooth 40 strikes tooth 39 causin contact piece 41 to close the shunt circuit (on motor circuit B) containing solenoid 18, whereby the latter becomes energized and plunger 19" drawn in forcing lever arm 13* with insulating Wedge.

l4 back to its former position breaking the circuit'of solenoid 22'. This permits the back stroke of plunger 23", whereby pulley 29 is caused to rotate and draw strlng or chain 84 with it, which brings lamphouse one on side A is closed. Near the end of this stroke tooth 40 strikes tooth 38, bringing contact piece 41 back to its former position. The circuit of solenoid 18 is thus broken leaving the latter in its normal deenergized condition. The change of run from the cinematograph of side A to that of side B is now completed. It remains to cut motor 60 out of circuit. This is done by solenoid 32, the circuit of which forms a shunt on the circuit of solenoid 18 and is with thelatter controlled by switch all". As described above,'the pawl part 34 of the plunger operates to turn switch 30" at the back stroke. Motor 60' is thus cut out of the two or more cinematographs, the principle involved is the same, though the controlling means would vary in form considerably from those described above.

All the matter contained in the above description as well as in the accompanying drawings, is intended only as an illustration representing one of many possible embodimentsof this invention, and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. In a motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination of a plurality of projectors adapted to operate successively, driving means for operating the same, means for controlling the operation of said driving means, an actuating device carried by a film at a given point, and adapted by its passage through a projector with the film at a given moment to actuate the said controlling device whereby the projector is cut' out and another brought into operation to succeed it.

2. In a motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination of two power driven projectors adapted to operate alternately, means controlling the starting and stopping of each projector, films in the projectors carrying actuating devices at a given point adapted at a given moment in their passage v with the film in one of the projectors to actuate the said controlling means whereby that apparatus is cut out and the other brought into operation.

3. In a motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination of a plurality of projectors, adapted to operate successively, motor drive for said projectors, electric circuits including the motor drive and means for cutting in or out said motors in the or-' der of succession in their work, said means comprising terminals conveniently located in the projector and electro-magnetic controlling mechanism, films in each projector carrying actuating devices at predetermined points which at a given moment in their passage with the film through one projector effect an electrical connection between said terminals whereby such projector is cut out and another brought into operation.

4. In a motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination of a plurality of projectors adapted to operate successively, motor'drives therefor, meansfor controlling the operation of said motors,,.films in each projector, and a projection or prominence at a predetermined point on the surface of the film serving as a catch and adapted by the movement of the film tobe brought in operative engagement with the said controlling means and to thereby cut out that projector and bring another into operation.

5. In a moving picture projecting apparatus, the combination of a plurality of projectors adapted to operate successively, motor drives therefor, a source of electricity and circuits for operating the motors, means for cutting in and cutting out the motors in proper order of succession, comprising terminals in a convenient part of the apparatus, and electro-magnetic controlling mechanism, films in the projectors, each carrying an actuating device at a predetermined point, and adapted at a given moment in its passage through a projector with the film to engage and operate the circuit controlling means located in the projector energizing the same and thereby throwing said projector out of operation and bringing another into operation.

6. In a moving picture projection outfit two cinematographs, operable alternately, one in succession of the other; a source of electricity; a motor drive for each of said cinematographs; a turn switch in each motor drive circuit; a lamphouse for each cinematograph; a lamphouse shutter or dowser rotatably mounted on a pivot and adapted to be manipulated by a handle, in each lamphouse tunnel; a combination of strings or chains running over guide pulleys and interconnecting said lamphouse shutter handles with two control pulleys, each of the latter being adapted, when rotated, to cause a simultaneous change in the positions of said lamphouse shutters with respect to their lamphouse tunnels; each of said cinematographs in combination with two shunt circuits on its motor drive circuit; one of said shunts having a switch situated in a convenient part of its cinematograph and containing a control solenoid, the second shunt containing a solenoid adapted, when energized, to open the switch of the first shunt and having a switch operable by the solenoid contained in said first shunt; films in said cinematographs, each film in combination with a device in the form of a catch attached thereto, where desired, and adapted, at the moment of its passage with the latter, through one of said cinematographs, momentarily engaged in operation, to engage and close the shunt switch situated therein, whereby the corresponding control solenoid is energized, the plunger of the same at its down stroke causin the motor switch of the other cinematograp to be closed, and, near the end of the stroke, closing also the switch in the second shunt, thereby energizing the solenoid contained-in the latter, the latter opening the switch in the first shunt, deenergizing the control solenoid and allowing its spring retracted plunger to snap back, thereby imparting a rotation to one of the said control pulleys causing the lamphouse shutter of the still running cinematograph to be closed and the one of the other cinematograph to be opened, thus completing a change of run from the one c-inematograph to the other.

T. In a moving picture projection outfit a plurality of cinematographs, operable successively, one after another; motor drives for said cinematographs; means for cutting in and cutting out said cinematographs in the order of succession in their work; means controlling said cutting-in and cutting-out means; films in said cinematographs, each film in combination with a projection attached thereto, where desired and adapted, at the moment of its passage through one of said cinematographs to actuate or affect said controlling means, whereby such cinematograph engaged in operation is cut out of action, while another one is cut in to succeed it; and an acoustic device adapted to be actuated by the aforesaid device, attached to the film, simultaneously with the said cut-in and cut-out controlling means, thus sounding a signal at the moment a-change of .run from one cinematograph to another is being effected.

8. In a cinematograph, the combination with devices adapted to serve as accessories thereto, of means for controlling said accessories, a film in said cinematograph provided with a projection constitutmg an actuating device which is adapted to transmit the inertia created by the movement of the film when passing through the operative parts of the cinematograph to mechanically actuate said controlling means, thereby bringing said accessories into action.

9. in a motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination with a plurality of cinematographs of a film in one of the same having a device attached thereto at a given point, a starting mechanism for said cinematographs and means for operating the same adapted to be engaged and operated by the passage of said device on the film to bring into action another cinematograph, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY R. CEEVER.

Witness WILLIAM KERSTING, 

